Single-trigger mechanism for breakdown guns.



Patented- Aug. 28.

w. m. LEVY. SINGLETRIGGQB MECHANISM FOR BREAKDOWN GUNS.

(Application filed mm". 22, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

fizwww,

No. 656,822. Patented Aug. 28, 1900.

w. m. LEVY. I

SIEGLE TRIGGER MECHANlSFfl FOR BREAKDOWN GUNS.

(Application filed Km. 22, 1900.)

2 Sheik-Shoal 2.

' ji iizkr/zjzjzaz y spectively. Fig.

'suitable means said second barrel in UNITED STATES PATENT Trice.

WILLIAM M. LEVY, or en Louis, 'inss'ounr.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent N 0.

656,822, dated August 28, 1900.

Application filed March 22, 1900. Serial No. 9,730. (No model.)

To all whom it may, concern..-

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM M. LEVY, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvenient in Single'lrigger Mechanism forBreakdown Guns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-Figure l. is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a portion ofa gun operating with my improved single-trigger mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an clevational View of the single-trigger mechanism as seenfrom the opposite side,

the firing mechanism being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is anelevational view of the single trigger and its cooperating rockingframe. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on-line 3 3, Fig. 2. Figs. 4. to7, inclusive, are diagrammatic views, in side elevation, of myimprovedsingle-t riggcr mechanism, showing the apparatus in different positions.Figs. 4 l

7, inclusive, are detailviews of one of the tumblers, showing itsposition relative to the near tumbler illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7, re-

8 is a side elevational and rear view of a modified form of tumbler, and

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the tumbler designed to cooperate with theone illustrated in Fig. 8.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in single-triggermechanisms for guns having a plurality of barrels, the object beingto'enable the operator to successively release or trip the firing themanipulation of a single the form of a trigger,

mechanism in or by the provision of single-trigger mechanism may beconfined to the control of a single-firing mechanism.

The object of my present invention is to take care of the involuntarypull on the trigger occurring immediately after the. discharge of ashell or cartridge from one barrehwhich involuntary pull might result infiring the quick succession.

"Wit-h this object in view my invention conmechanism by sists in thenovel construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts,all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings I have shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 my improvedsingle-trigger mechanism as applied to a well-kn own form of ti ringmechanism, which latter is illustrated solely for the purpose of showingthe application of my device to a well-known construction; butfit willbe obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relatesthat the improved single trigger mechanism hereinafter described can beapplied to any form of firing mechanism, and therefore I do not wish tohe understood as limiting myself to the particu-.

lar form of firing mechanism shown.

In the drawings, A indicates what is known as the frame; 13, thebarrels; B], the fore end carrying the barrels, which are pivoted to theforward end of the frame the lifter arrangedon the rear end of the cocklug-shaft, (not shown;) D, the hammer; E, the sear; F, the mainspring;G, the bridle; H, the igger; I, the safety-stud; J, the slide; K, thethumb-piece, and L the tang. All of said parts, with the exception ofthe safetystud, are practically of the usual and wellknown constructionof the firearm commonly called donblebarrel. ham merless shotgun.

The general construction and operation of a double-barrel ham merlessshotgun are well understood, and a detailed description here is hardlynecessary, but for purposes of explanation may be briefly described asfollows: The gun shown is of the breakdowntype, and upon the release ofthe barrel-locking mechanism by the manipulation of the top lever M thebarrels swing on the pivot Z), which, in addition to actuating theejecting mechanism in general, also sets in motion the cookingmechanism, of which the lifter O, eo6perating with theforwardly-projecting ends of the hammer D, forms a part. Thebarrellocking lever and post N, which is rotated when the gun is thusbroken through theirs.- strumentality of the cam projection n on itsupper end engaging with a slide 0, fitted in a groove under the tang andabutting at its rear end against the slide J, terces said zoo end ofthis slide passes out 'of a notch, which I will mark '2, in the tang andinto a notch which I will mark 1. A third notch 3, behind the notch 1,for cooperating with the tooth j and in another position of the partswill behereinafterdescribed. The sheils are now introduced-into thebreech of the gun and the barrels closed. In the mechanism heretoforeused, which employ the essential characteristics 'of the several partsabove mentioned, two triggers were employed, one for-each firingmechanism, and in the position where the tooth j was forced into notch 1those triggers were locked against movement, and to unlock the triggersit was necessary to move the thumb-piece K forwardly into notch 2, whichupon the gun being broken would result in the automatic restoration ofthis device. If, however, the tooth was moved rearwardly into engagementwith the notch 3, this device would be thrown beyond the limit ofmovement of the slide 0 and would not be actuated thereby upon thebreaking of the gun, and in such third position the gun can be loadedand fired without moving the thumb-s1 ide K, this position of thethumbslide bcing what is known as the independent safety position. Thetop lever M, hereinabove referred to, or a similar device designed to bemanuallyoperated fOl' unlocking the barrels of the gun and permittingthe gun to be l)l'0l(()ll may be designated as the barrelloekingmechanism, as the said top lover or its equivalent directly controls thelocking device employed for holding the barrels of the gun in a closedposition. This being the vgeneral design and operation of the gun shownin Fig. l,although, as stated before, I do not wish to be iii-iderstoodas limiting my improvement in its application to a gun having thesegeneral characteristics, nor, indeed, to the type of gun shown, as itcan as well be applied to thrce-barrel guns or hammergcns or any otherform of firearms, I will now describe the construction and operation ofmy improved trigger mechanism used in connection therewith.

o; indicates a pivot-bled; .ipon which the trigger if is pivoiallymounted, said trigger being provided with a slotted extension l1v at itsrear end, in which slotted extension is mounted a roller 1, said rollerhaving llangos on each side of the slotted c.\'lcnsio n,(sce Fig. 23,)while ihespindle of said roller extends lat erally on each side of thetrigger some distance, so as to engage withshouldors orpro- ,jections onthe tumblers,to be hereinafter described.

Q indicalcsa rocking frame which is pivoted at r; to a block extendingup from the tang. provided with a slot or formed with two ineinhers inor between which extends the slotted porlion of the trigger. Thetrigger-slot, as

The vertical portion of this frame is I before stated, carries theroller l,whose spindle extends laterally, and these lateral extensionsof this spindle pass through slots in the vertical members of therocking frame,

as shown. A spring cooperates with this frame to hold the same in aforward position at all times, while from the lower or pivoted end ofsaid frame extends a finger .,designed to cooperate with a pin orlateral projection h on the single trigger.

R indicates a tumbler, which for purposes of explanation we willdesignate as the tum bler cooperating with the firing mechanism for theright barrel, and S indicates a tumbler for cooperating with the firingmechauism of the left barrel. These tumblers are pivoted at theirforward ends on the trigger pivot-bolt for the sake of convenience,bu-ti'it,

is obvious that they can be mounted-in a different manner, so that theywill be properly actuated in their respective movements. These tumblerscooperate, respectively,with the tailpieces of the scars for the rightand left firing mechanism, and, as shown in Figs. 4 to 7, these searscooperate with shoulders on the hub portions of the hammers, the searforthe right firing mechanism so cooperating with the hammer for saidmechanism that when the rear end of said sear is elevated upon theelevation of its actuating-tumbler the hammer will be released, so as tomove forward under the impulse of its rmainspring to deliver a firingblow, and when in this forward position the forward end'of the sear,still cooperating with the hub of the hammer, will be depressed byreason of an eccentric or cam-face formation on the hammer-hub,- so thatthe rear end of the scar will be elevated to permit itsactuating-tnmbler to occupy a position differentfrom that which itoccupied before said tumbler was moved by the trigger. The samecondition may be true with respect to the scar of the left tiringmechanism; but it is not essential.

The tumbler R, shown in the drawings as pivoted at its forward end,cooperates with a spring 1', whose tendency is to cause said tumbler tooccupy an elevated position at all times. Of course when the hammer is,rctraeted or in a firing position the rear end of its coilperating searis depressed, so that the tumbler it occupies a lowered or depressedposition. ries twrshoulders or projections and 1, between which there isa suitabledistance which is utilized to take care of the involuntarypull by the movennmt of the spindle of the roller. 1 passing fromengagement with the shoulder '1" to a position beneath the shoulder 1'as will hereinafter bcd'escribed. In the normal position of the tumblerlt, as shown in The rear end of the tumbler It car-- too the tumbler it,and the gun is in a safe con'- dilion, the tumbler S being locked in asafe is. likewise shown occupied when the tumbler R until said spindlefore the tumbler-S can be released position by mechanism independent ofthe safety-stud, as will hereinafter be described.

Fig. 4 shows the apparatus in a safe position, and the t'oothj is innotch Z. If it is desired to fire the right and left barrelssuccessively upon successive operations of the trigger, the slide J isslid forward to disengage the stud I from the tumbler R and the rocking'frame Q, as shown in Fig. 5. If the trigger is pulled when the partsare in this position,the spindle of the roller P being un der theshoulder 1* will elevate the tumbler R, which carries with it the sear,to release the firing mechanism of the right barrel. When the right searis elevated, it is held in such position by its spring 1, and itscooperating sear is likewise held in an elevated position, as shown inFig. 6. forces the trigger forward, and causes the spindle of the rollerA spring 71/2 the spring q P to hug the moves under the shoulder Wandpermits said rockingframe to move forward to an abnormal position,depressing its forward member 9' and permitting the trigger to moveto-an abnormal forward position, which is limited by the pin hcontacting with the arm (1 of the rocking frame Q. In fact, thetrigger-spring forces the trigger to an abnormal forward position underthe circumstances above described, and even if the spring q is omittedthe projection k on the trigger will force the frame Q forward. Therearmost position of the trigger is indicated. by the dotted lines X inFig. 5, .the normal position is shown by the full lines,- and theabnormal forward position of the trigger is shown by dotted lines in thesamev figure'at Y, which abnormal position by full lines in Fig. 6. Itwill thus be seen that the movement of the trigger from its positionindicated at X to the position indicated at Y is sufficient to take careof any involuntary pull due to the discharge of the firing mechanismcontrolled by the tumbler R, and, further, that in effect ing thismovement from X to Y the' trigger is out of operative relation totumbler S, so that a full release of the trigger is necessary before theleft barrel can be fired, and pending the absolute or full release of,the trigger, permitting it to reach the limit of its abnormal forwardmovement, the tumbler S is locked in position. The full release of thetrigger is accomplished only after the spindle of the roller P passesunder the shoulder s, which occupies a position relative to the trig-'ger lower than the position the shoulder 1" tumbler R was in itslowermost position. In other words after the trigger is moved rearwardlyto elevate the tumbler R said trigger has to move forward a greaterdistance to enable the spindleof the roller Pto pass under the shoulders beor the trigger engaged therewith. Whenv the trigger moves forwardbeyond its normal position and therocking frame Q rocks forward, the

tumbler S is released and the trigger is thrown.

into engagement therewith, so that the first movement of the trigger, ifsaid trigger is pulled after it reaches its abnormal position, will beto directly effect the elevation of the tumbler S, and thus dispensewith a drag or lost motion. As shown in Figs. 4 to 7, the tumbler S isprovided with two shoulders s and s and a locking-finger .9 with whichfinger a projection g on the rocking frame Q cooperates when said frameis in its normal position to prevent the tumbler S from being elevated.In elevating the tumbler R the spindle of the roller P is made to moveunder the shoulders, and even though the spindle contacts with saidshoulder the tumbler S will not be raised, because the projection g isover the l0cking fingers However, when the tumbler R has been elevatedand the spindle ofthe rollcrP permitted to occupy a position under theshoulder s to permit the rocking frame Q to move forward the projectionis moved out of the path of the finger 8 as shown in Fig. 6*, and thespindle of the roller P moves under the shoulders. The trigger is now inits abnormal forward position and the spindle of the roller P in contactwith the shoulders, so that upon the first pull of the trigger thetumbler Swill be elevated to raise the rear end of the left releasingthe hammer of its controlled firing mechanism. When the gun is broken,the tumblers are depressed, the safety-stud I locks the tumbler R in itslowermost position, and the projection g" on the frame Q locks thetumbler S in its lowermost position. When sear, which results in thesafety-stud is moved forward to release the tumbler R, the right barrelmay-be fired,

the tumbler for the firing mechanism of the left barrel being locked inposition by the pin (1 until the right barrel has been fired and thetrigger moves to an abnormal forward position, the length of saidmovement of the trigger, as indicated by the dotted positions X and Y inFig. 5, and the time required for the trigger to move this distancebeing sulfioient to take care of any involuntary pull which may resultfrom the recoil of firingthe right barrel. The trigger therefore musthave a full release after the right barrel has been fired before theleft can be fired, the final movement of the trigger to its abnormalforward position unlocking the tumbler of the firing mechanism for theleft barrel and soengaging the trigger with said tumbler that thetrigger does'not drag or lose motion, but its first movement positive] yand directly elevates the'tumbler S.

In devices of this character it is desirable that provision be madewhereby the left bar rel can be firedseparately, rendering itunnecessary to operate the mechanism for the,

right barrel previousto the pull of the trigger for firing the leftbarrel. In order to accomplish this, the slide J is moved so that itsfinger will occupy notch 3 in the tang,in which position the safety-studI still engages and locks the tumbler R against movement. Then thesafety-stud occupies this rear position, it engages the upper end of therocking frame Q and moves said frame rearwardly,so that the spindle ofthe roller P is moved out of engagement with the shoulder .1"; but saidspindle still occupies a position under the shoulder This rearwardposition of the rocking frame Q also carries the projection q? out ofthe path of the finger s ,(see Fig.

gage the shoulder s and elevate the left sear, the trigger movingrearwardly an abnormal distance to effect this. As long as the tooth oftheslide J is in the rearmostnotch the tumbler R locked in its depressedposition (see Fi 7) and the right barrel cannot be i fired; but the leftbarrel can be loadedand fired as many times as desired. Should it bedesired totire the left: barreliirst and then the right barrel,the slideis moved to the rearmost notch, the left barrel iired, and then theslide moved to the foremost notch in order thatthe right barrel may beii red. ()fcoursc when the slide cooperates with the rear-most notchitis beyond the control oi the sliding piece 0 and so remains in itsrea-rmost position at all times.

in Figs. 8 and .l l have shown a modifica tion of the tumblers it and S,marking the same It and S, in which it will be seen that the tumblersare provided with lateral projections, forming stops or shoulderscorresponding to the shoulders of the tumblers shown in the otherfigures of the drawings, and the spindle for the roller .1, whichcooperates with the'projcctious on the tumblers It and is of such lengththat it operates- I within the limits of the inside faces of saidtumblers and does not project laterally therebeyond, as in theothcr formoftumblers hereinbcfore described.

While I have described the construction illustrated in the acctnnpanyingdrawings in such manner that the tumbler lt,which might be termed the)rimar tumbler is identithe second.

tied with the right barrel of the gunand the tumbler b, which might betermed the secondary tumbler, is identified with the lcit barrel, itwill be obvious that the position of these tumblers can be reversed, sothat the left barrel willbe the first lired and the right It will alsobe obviousthat instead of having atumblcr on each side of-the triggerbolh of the tumblers can be outhc same side.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement,-andcombination of the several parts of my devicc'can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described withoutin the least.departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

'll aving thus described my invention, what 7%) so' that whenthe triggeris pulled under these conditions the spindle of the roller 1 will on Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is

1. The combination with a plurality of firing mechanisms, of a singletrigger therefor, independently-operable tumblers interposed betweensaid trigger and said firing meehanisms, a shi ftable device 1nengagement with the trigger and in position to engage at least one ofsaid tumblers at all times, and mechanism for moving the trigger to anabnormal forward position upon the operation of one of said tumblers,substantially as described.

2. The combination with a'plurality of firing mechanisms in which areincluded hammers and scars, of a single trigger common to all of saidmechanisms, independently-operable tumblers for operating the different.

sears, means for engaging the single trigger successively with thedifferenttumblers,- and means for moving the trigger to an abnormalforward position upon the operation of one of said tumblers,substantially as described.

The combination with a plurality of fira ing mechanisms in which areincluded hammcrs and scars, of a single trigger common to all of saidmechanisms, independently-operablc tumblers cooperating with said searsand said trigger, an adjustable safety-stud cooperating with one of saidtumblers, and a rocking frame cooperating with the other ofsaidtumblers, said. rocking frame being in the path of said safety-stud,whereby, when said safcty-stud is moved to rock saidframe it releasesthe tumbler formerly locked by said frame, said safety-stud remaining in00- too operative relation with its respective tumblcr, and locking thesame against movement; 1

substantially as described. t. The combination with a pluraiity'ofl'iring mechanisms in which are included hammers and scars, of a singletrigger common to all of said mechanisms, independently-op: erabletumblers cooperating with said scars and said trigger, a shiftabledevice in en gage- -ment with'the triggerand in position to-engage atleast one of said tumblers at alltjimes, a rocking frame cooperatingwith said shift,- able device, and asafet'y-s-tud for cot'iperating withone of said tumblers and said rocking frame, whereby, when saidsafety-stud is out of engagement with said tumbler the successiveoperation of the trigger will suecessively operate the different tiringmocha-n I able device carried bythe trigger for eoopei with shoulders orrecesses, wiihone of which tumblers said slide stud or projectioncooper-+ ates, a single trigger, a rocking frame, and a roller mountedin said trigger provided with a spindle for cooperating with saidrocking frame and said tum blers, substantially as described.

U. The combination with a hammer carrying means for elevating the rearend of its sea r, of a scar, a tumbler for disengaging the from thehammer, a spring for holding the tumbler in an elevated position afterthe sear trips the hammer, a trigger, a shiftabledevice carried by saidtrigger for engaging' the trigger with the tumbler, a rockingframe withwhich said shift-able device cooperates a secondary tumbler which isdesigned to be engaged by the shiftable device after thefirst tumbler isoperated, and means on the rocking frame for locking the secondarytumbler against movement during the operation of the first tumbler,substantially as described.

7. The combination with a slotted trigger, of a roller mounted in theslot thereol',a slotted rocking frame for embracing said roller andthrough the slot in which the spindle of said roller passes, tumblersprovided with shoulders with which the spindle of said rollercooperates, and ii ring mechanisms controlled by said tumblers,substantially as described.

b. The combination with a firing mechanism, of a trigger, a tumblercommon to said and said firing mechanism, and a shift-- ating with saidtumbler, said tumbler being provided with shoulders r and r cooperatingwith the said shiftable device; substantially as described;

9. The combination with a firing mechanism, of a trigger for operatingthe same, a

' tumbler, substantially as described.

tumbler common to said trigger and said fir-- ing mechanism, a shiftabledevice carried by said trigger for coiiperating with said tumbler, arocking frame with which said shiftable device also coiiperates, saidtumbler bewith shoulders s and s for on I i "l shiftable device, and acking frame for cooper- -iinger s on thetumbler,

10. The 1: ion with a plurality of firing mechanisms including hammersand scars, of means for holding one of said sears after its actuatingmechanism has been re--' leased in a position different from thatoccupied by said sear bct'erc its actuating mechanism was releas d, sothat another firing mechanism can be operated only after the reaches 2-hist-inciitioned position, a s ngle-trigger rticchan sm common to all ofsaid tiring mechanisms, and means for moving the single trigger to anabnormal forward position to operate said las't'mentioncdfiringmechanism successively, substantial y as described.

il. The combination with aplurality ol' liring mechanisms includinghammers and scars, of independently-operable tumblers movable with thedilferentsears, means for holding one of said sears and its cooperating7o tumbler in a position after the elease of the firing mechanismcontrolled thereby different from that occupied by said sear and tumblerbefore said mechanism was released, whereby the other mechanism can befired only'after the scar and tumbler first men-, tioned are operatedand their position changed, a single trigger cooperating with saidtumblers and their associate sears, and means for moving said'trigger toan abnormal forward position after the operation of the first firingmechanism and into position to operate the second-mentioned firingmechanism, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a plurality otfira ing mechanisms, ofindependently-operable tumblers for controlling the same,manuallyoperable devices for locking one of said tumblers in positionand releasing the other of said tumblers, a trigger, and a shiftabledevice carried by the trigger and designed to engage the releasedtumbler only when the trigger is moved to an abnormal position to therear, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a single trigger, of a shiftable device carriedthereby, a rocking frame in engagement with said shil'table device,independentlyoperable tumblers adapted to be engaged by said shiftabledevice, and manually-operable means for locking one of said tumblers inposition and en gaging said rocking frame to release the other tumblerand place the shift-able device of the trigger in position to operatesaid released I05 14. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combiuationwith a plurality of independentlyoperable tumblers, of a single trigger,devices carried by said trigger for successively engaging said tumblers,means for moving the trigger to an abnormal forward position when one ofsaid tumblers has been operated, and means for preventing said triggerfrom occupying an operative relation to the last tuinbler to be operateduntil said trigger has reached the limit of its abnormal forwardmovement, substantially as described,

' 15. The combinationwith a pluralityot independently-operable tumblers,of a single trigger, a shiflable device on said trigger for successivelyengaging the tumblers, and means for moving the trigger to an abnormalforward position after the first of said tumblers has been operated,said means releasing the other of said tumblers and causing theshil'table device on the trigger to assume a position to directly engagethe released tumbler upon the next pull on the trigger when in itsabnormal forward position, substantially as described.

16. In a breakdown gun, the combination with the barrel-lockingmechanism, of a pluf rality of firing mechanisms, a plurality ofindependcntly-operahlo tun: blors, a single trig .ger, a shittabledevice engaging the trigger and designed to engage all of the tumblersat different times, means operated by the barrel-locking mechanism forlooking all of the rality of firingmechanisms, a plurality ofindependently-operable tumblers, a single trigger, a shiftable deviceengaging the trigger and designedto engage all of the tumblers atdifferent times, a rocking frame cooperating with the'shiftable deviceon the trigger, means on said frame for locking one of said tumblersagainst movement, and means operated by the barrel-locking mechanism forlooking the other ofsaid tumblers and single trigger againstmo'vement,substant;ially as described.

18. .In a breakdown gun, the combination with the barrel-lockingmechanism, of aplurality of firing mechanisms, a pluralityofindependently-operable tumblers, a single trigger, a shiftable devicemigaging the trigger and designed to engage all of the tumblers atdifferent times, arocking frame cooperating with the shiftabled twice onthet-ri'gger, means on said frame tor locking one of said tumblersagainst movement,and means operated by the barrel-locking mechanismtorloeking the other of said tumblers and single trigger against.movenn-nt. said means also cooperatiug with the locking irairle toaotuaic the same to release the si ngle trigger nd the tu m blerstherctoi'oro' lovkrd by said rockiuisf frame, said men us st ill lockingthe other tumbier against. movement, substantially as described.

10. In a breakdown gun, the combination with the barrel-lockingmechanism, of a plurality of firing mechanisms in which are includedhammers and scars, a single trigger common to all of said mechanisms,independently-operable tumblers for operating the different sears, meansfor-engaging the single trigger successively with the diliierenttumblers, means for moving the trigger toan abnormal forward positionupon the operation of one of said tumblers, and mechanism operated bythe barrel-looking mechanism for re storing the trigger from itsabnormal forward position to its normal position, substantially asdescribed.

20. In a breakdown gun the combination with the barrel-lockingmechanism, of a plurality of firing mechanisms inwhieh are includedhammers and sears, a single trigger common to all of said mechanisms,independen lily-operable tumblers for operating the different sears,means for engaging the single trigger successively with the differenttumbiers, means for moving the trigger to an abnormal forward positionupon the operation of one of said tumblers, and-mechanism operated bythe barrel-locking mechanism for restoring the trigger from its abnormalforward position to its normal position, said mechanism also locking theseveral tumblers and trigger against movement, substantially asdescribed In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, inthepresence of two witnesses, iiiis 20th day of March, 1900.

} "lIjLIi Ul M. LEVY.

\\ iinesses:

WM. 11. Sco'r'r,

l I R .uiru KA Lisn

